The surgeon then folds back the hinged flap to access the underlying cornea (1b). Using a highly specialized laser with a cool ultraviolet light beam, the surgeon removes and re-molds a small amount of tissue to change the shape of the cornea, improving how light rays are focused to enhance your vision (2a). After reshaping the main part of the cornea, the flap is replaced to serve as a natural bandage (2b). LASIK is performed on each eye separately, with each eye taking only about five minutes. Most patients report little or no discomfort after LASIK. In as few as 24 hours, patients typically enjoy vision of 20/20 or better without glasses or contacts. LASIK QUICK FACTS • The most commonly performed laser eye surgery • Quick recovery and results • Patients see results almost immediately 1a 1b 2a 2b 9